Reports of violence, killings,
snatching of ballot boxes and intimidation of voters seem to have marred the
ongoing governorship polls in Bayelsa state.

Though there are also reports of
peaceful voting in some polling areas, general reactions to the election
indicate many voters are not happy with the conduct of the election.

The first sign that all was not
well with the election, is the late arrival of materials at some polling units.

In Ogbia local government area
where the former President, Goodluck Jonathan hails from, as at 11am, INEC
officials and voting materials were yet to arrive his polling unit in Otuoke.

At Amarata Area, Fambramat Unit
Ward 13, there was late commencement of voting due to logistics problems.

Also in Ekeremoh local government
area, political thugs allegedly led by a top party leader hijacked sensitive
electoral materials to his residence at Ekeremoh LGA.

An official of the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), after collecting sensitive materials from
Oporoma, allegedly arrived Otuan without the sensitive materials, after voters
discovered that the original result sheets were not in the list with her.

The official was, however,
apprehended by party agents who questioned her motives for showing up at the
polling unit without the original result sheets.

In SILGA Ward 14, the military
stationed around the area also allegedly held top party leaders hostage in
Ogboinbiri community.

The leaders were reportedly held
hostage for over two hours thereby preventing them from voting.

Some non-registered voters, who
were allegedly imported to Kolokuma Odi allegedly made attempts to vote with
fake PVC, but the residents resisted such moves.

An electoral official, Mr Orji,
who is originally the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), for Anambra State,
was quoted to have said, “As our people were coming into the community after
crossing the river, they seized them and the materials and burnt all the
materials”.

In Otuan Ward 5, Southern Ijaw
local government area, election materials were also hijacked by gunmen, while
some suspected thugs were apprehended by military men.